Welcome to Electoral Line “A View From Abroad”, in which we talk to media personalities who are not from America but closely follow its politics. Every few weeks, these keen observers provide a unique perspective on the tense and unpredictable campaign for the White House. This week we have a Q&A with Vanessa Jaklitsch, the chief American correspondent of the Spanish television Telemadrid. Jaklitsch has been covering American politics for more than a decade, questioning Donald Trump's president at the height of the Covid crisis and interviewing Joe Biden's administration figures such as national security adviser John Kirby. She claims to be the first Spanish woman to receive an I-1 journalist visa in the Trump White House and was a board member of the U.S. Foreign Press Correspondents' Association. Our exchange took place via email and has been slightly edited for length and clarity.
Deadline: What's it like covering one of the most unpredictable elections in U.S. history?
Jaklitsch: Covering the United States as a foreign correspondent from Spain was the most wonderful adventure of my life. For the last decade, everything that happened in the political scenario seemed like an extraordinary experience. Somehow, we journalists have had to get used to the “unprecedented” and “historical” stories we tell our viewers almost every day.
The last US election was no exception. On the contrary, no one was ready for what happened. Probably not even Kamala Harris or Donald Trump. Campaigns of both parties, Democratic and Republican, had to adapt to the circumstances at the last minute. And the media too.
As another journalist friend recently told me, “There are years that last a hundred years and weeks that disappear in a second.” So, given what we have seen in recent months, especially in the summer, the only thing that is certain right now is that anything is possible.
How have the dynamics of the race changed since Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee??
It was she who apparently began to take almost all the attention in order to be more present in the everyday functioning of the government. So far, as vice president, she has behaved quite discreetly – in line with the requirements of her role, and many have even pointed out her lack of charisma and leadership.
But it looks like she proved them wrong. Suddenly, after President Joe Biden resigned, she was poised to become the first woman and Black American president of the United States. Her official nomination for president from the Democratic Party alarmed her opponents while also renewing the hopes of her own political party.
Kamala Harris
Getty Images
Did her post revitalize the campaign?
That's true. Her campaign renewed the hopes of the youngest, who were not motivated by Joe Biden's age disability and some of his most controversial policy positions, such as the Gaza Strip and now Lebanon.
Now it's Kamala Harris' time to shine and show what role she plays in demonstrating her leadership beyond Joe Biden. Her first big decision – selecting Tom Walz as her second – seemed to be quite the right one. He is a white man from rural America, a teacher, football coach, veteran and former National Guardsman. She can help her by collecting votes that fit her opponent's profile.
Within weeks, the Harris-Walz ticket managed to salvage enthusiasm the party hadn't seen in decades and even a record collection of donations.
What do you think the election result will be?
As I say every time I'm asked the same question: anything is possible, anything can happen. We cannot predict at all what will happen, even if we have reliable polls. Both presidential candidates, Harris and Trump, are really close in the race, as most of them show. The final result of the elections scheduled for November 5 will depend only on several thousand Americans from swing states, who will have the power to choose which president will move to the White House on January 20, 2025. We will have to pay special attention to Pennsylvania and Georgia, as well as Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and Nevada, and most recently North Carolina.
What was your experience reporting on the White House?
As I mentioned earlier, reporting from the White House for over a decade was the most wonderful and unforgettable experience of my life. Not a day has gone by when I have not felt the privilege and great honor of being able to report on the daily life of America from its political heart, having the enormous responsibility of informing millions of people around the world about such historic times, showing them the facts from a neutral perspective and with proper diligence and encouraging you to form your own opinion.
From a school shooting to a hurricane emergency, the coronavirus pandemic, the attack on the US Capitol, mass racial protests, violence, political scandals, space launches, gastronomy, culture, science and awards. If you travel around the United States, you will never be bored. Even more so if you often spend time in the White House. Reality always outweighs fiction in the end.
Vanessa Jaklitsch asks Trump a question
How does the Trump administration compare to the Biden administration?
From my personal perspective, all administrations have been a source of learning and growth in every way. It is true that under Trump, foreign correspondents were not allowed to obtain a new credential, a White House hard pass. During his presidency, they did not accept new foreign members. However, I still had the opportunity to register on short notice, attend frequent press conferences, and even ask questions of President Trump. I have never been busier in my life than in 2020, with the pandemic and the election. As a journalist, I was an “essential worker.” This meant I was on the streets during the extended curfew in Washington, D.C., as racial protests spread across the country.
I was finally able to get my first Hard Pass under the Biden administration. Apparently they were more open with the press, but unfortunately, after almost four years, I didn't have a chance to ask him any questions other than shouting about Marine One's arrival or departure.
I interviewed his staff many times. For example, John Kirby, his national security adviser, responded to my interview requests several times at key moments. He was on the front page of my newspaper, highlighting the great relationship between the U.S. and Spain as a “NATO ally, friend and key partner.” As a White House spokesman, he told me that “President Biden is very grateful for the support Spain has provided to Ukraine.”
To answer your question on a more personal note, I met President Biden and spoke briefly with him and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House Christmas reception, something his predecessor apparently never did for reporters.
Vanessa Jaklitsch last year at the White House with her mother
How did you fight disinformation?
I always rely on official sources. And of course I also use common sense! After living and working in the USA for some time, you get a very good understanding of how it all works and where to find information and official reactions. You can also get your own credential wherever you need it, usually the White House, the U.S. Congress, and the Department of State – and if you're a foreign correspondent, all three at the same time. If we want to get the right information and then share it with our audiences, we really need to be everywhere, all the time.
How does Spain view the race for the White House?
With great interest and curiosity. People ask me all the time what I think, what the result will be. They know Trump still has options, but after everything that has happened since 2020, they really think Harris can win. Not only in Spain, but in Europe in general, people have a strong sense of hope for democracy and believe that this is an exaggeration in the face of the attack on the Capitol and all the ongoing legal proceedings and criminal charges (91 in total) against the former president.
On the other hand, I always try to explain well that there are two very different Americas. The one we see in big cities, which is completely different from the one that exists in rural areas. American society is polarized – perhaps more than ever – and the final decision on election night will reflect that division with differences of just a few thousand votes in some of the country's key states.
Will Trump admit defeat if he loses?
The risk in this hypothetical situation will likely be the same as what happened in November 2020. We can imagine what the scenario would be like if we only remembered what happened then. Now, four years later, his voter base remains intact, and some of them, convinced that the last election was rigged, are already threatening to do whatever it takes to keep him in power. Trump may also win the votes of those who are dissatisfied with current policies and how government decisions affect their own lives.
How did Spain react to the attack on Donald Trump?
I think like everyone else, it was something shocking and unexpected that caught everyone's attention. Perhaps because of this, some people thought it was planned. The truth is that his popularity rose again and his image as a warrior was shared throughout the world. I'd like to stop here to highlight the amazing work my colleague Evan Vucci did in creating this wonderful photo. It wasn't luck at all, but a long career full of sacrifice, hard work, and the experience of following Presidents around the world, under all circumstances.
